BALLYDOYLE TINA WITH A SIZZLING DEBUT

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Kasko Unraced Bitch Stake kicked off at Clonmel Greyhound Stadium last night and there was a sensational debut performance from Ballydoyle Tina.

Just a June ʼ24 whelp, owned by Pio Barry, Ballydoyle Tina came into her debut off two promising trials around Thurles and Kilkenny, but nothing quite hinted at the brilliance she produced last night.

Drawn in three, confidence was high as she was installed the 5/4 joint-favourite alongside the Graham Holland-trained Airfield Daisy, and Tina meant business from the off. Breaking smartly, she surged into an early lead and quickly opened up a two-length advantage rounding the opener. By the time they passed the sprint boxes, she had stretched her margin to six lengths. Clocking a sizzling 16.02 to the third bend, the daughter of Ballymac Kingdom – Ballydoyle Rossa never looked like being caught, storming clear to score by eight and a half lengths over Airfield Daisy in second.

Her winning time, a brilliant 28.30, marks a serious statement for a fifteen-month-old pup.

*****

In other heats, Blackstone Cola recovered from a tardy start to win impressively for owner Patrick Sinnott. Donning the blue jacket, the daughter of Dromana Bucko - Blackstone Lacey was well off-the-pace at the halfway mark, however, turned on the after-burners around the bottom two bends to storm home and cross the line with two and a half lengths to spare. The time was 29.25.

Traffic ensued in the remaining heat but the eventual winner was Swift Bathe (King Elvis - Swift Freya), as she took over at the second turn before running to a three length success over Nitro Nova in second. The time for the Aaron O’Hanlon-trained runner was 29.77.